Hitchhiker Polyps?

[slipperyslope]

Bought some macroalgae with a few different hitchhikers, this one included. Its a couple mm long and dark brown. Video shows little arms feeding itself? What is it?

 

[Mickle]

Bought some macroalgae with a few different hitchhikers, this one included. Its a couple mm long and dark brown. Video shows little arms feeding itself? What is it?

My first thought was peanut worm but I think its too short bodied to be a worm. Maybe a baby anemone

 

[EnterName]

The image quality is very limited so it's hard to tell. To me it looks a little bit like a burrowing anemone because the appendage doesn't seem to have an actual foot to attach to something. I would have expected the polyp to stand/point upwards towards the camera, if it had a proper foot like other anemones.

The families Halcampidae, Haloclavidae and Edwardsiidae contain a lot of burrowing anemones, but I haven't found a good match yet and I'm wondering why a burrowing anemone would be stuck in macro algae instead of sitting on the substrate.

 

[penfold2]

Yours may be too small to identify, but I have what I've tentatively identified as a Mangrove or Turtle Grass Anemone. I've only ever seen it attached to macroalgae in my tank, so it may have come as a hitchhiker from my Mosaic Macros order.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/mangrove-turtle-grass-anemone.1167675/

 

[slipperyslope]

More Photos

 

[slipperyslope]

Yours may be too small to identify, but I have what I've tentatively identified as a Mangrove or Turtle Grass Anemone. I've only ever seen it attached to macroalgae in my tank, so it may have come as a hitchhiker from my Mosaic Macros order.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/mangrove-turtle-grass-anemone.1167675/

This is from my order from Mosaic Macros as well!

 

[slipperyslope]

The image quality is very limited so it's hard to tell. To me it looks a little bit like a burrowing anemone because the appendage doesn't seem to have an actual foot to attach to something. I would have expected the polyp to stand/point upwards towards the camera, if it had a proper foot like other anemones.

The families Halcampidae, Haloclavidae and Edwardsiidae contain a lot of burrowing anemones, but I haven't found a good match yet and I'm wondering why a burrowing anemone would be stuck in macro algae instead of sitting on the substrate.

Check out the other photos in my reply. Seems like Mosaic Macros may have a history of these or other hitchhikers based on penfold2’s reply

 

[penfold2]

This is from my order from Mosaic Macros as well!

I originally guessed that it came from my Tampa Bay Saltwater live rock, but your post reminded me that I first saw it on my Caulerpa ashmeadii from Mosaic. When that piece eventually died, it moved to a Botryocladia where it is now.

 

[EnterName]

This is from my order from Mosaic Macros as well!

I originally guessed that it came from my Tampa Bay Saltwater live rock, but your post reminded me that I first saw it on my Caulerpa ashmeadii from Mosaic. When that piece eventually died, it moved to a Botryocladia where it is now.

If it really is a turtle grass anemone then be careful about its sting. Their toxin can apparently be very painful.

Bunodeopsis spp. have a proper foot to attach though which I can't see in the images. I would put yours on a bit of macroalgae and see if it properly attaches.

Hitchhikers in macroalgae are common, so it's possible I suppose.

 

[slipperyslope]

I originally guessed that it came from my Tampa Bay Saltwater live rock, but your post reminded me that I first saw it on my Caulerpa ashmeadii from Mosaic. When that piece eventually died, it moved to a Botryocladia where it is now.

Was yours also super small when it came in? How long did it take to grow to its current size?

 

[penfold2]

If it really is a turtle grass anemone then be careful about its sting. Their toxin can apparently be very painful.

I was not aware, but I'll definitely keep that in mind now.

Was yours also super small when it came in? How long did it take to grow to its current size?

I only noticed it a couple weeks ago when it was (and still is) about the size of my thumbnail, so I can't comment on growth rate, but my Mosaic order arrived on June 19.

 

[EnterName]

If it really is a turtle grass anemone then be careful about its sting. Their toxin can apparently be very painful.

I was not aware, but I'll definitely keep that in mind now.

Was yours also super small when it came in? How long did it take to grow to its current size?

I only noticed it a couple weeks ago when it was (and still is) about the size of my thumbnail, so I can't comment on growth rate, but my Mosaic order arrived on June 19.

See warning text on toxicity and info below that: https://www.reeflex.net/tiere/6249_Bunodeopsis_globulifera.htm